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Friday, November 13, 2015

The City always has its hand out

A few people, all from outside the Grove, told me that they spent Halloween night in Coconut Grove and they spent a lot of money. They ate, drank and mingled. But they didn't like the large police presence.

I'm hoping that our new commissioner changes things around here. We are losing everything that is Grovey little by little. The Bed Race is in talks to stay, but they may end up elsewhere do to exorbitant city service fees. It's amazing that if you go to an event in South Miami or Coral Gables, you see two, maybe three cops, here in the Grove and Miami, you pay the whole force on double time to man the events. Other Grove events are also in talks to leave. Same reason - crazy high city services. These events may move to other cities or places in Miami where they are on private property.

You would think that the city would be pleased that people are throwing first-rate events and they wouldn't have their hands out the first thing, but rather help the event organizers pay for the events, or better yet, stop charging them. I was told that during Regatta season, which is gearing up, that boats for one or two of the regattas, will be "stored" right on the Regatta Park lawn. When I asked how people would get around the park, I was told they would have to walk around the boats. Is the City charging the Regattas to use the park? I somehow doubt it. Is this a good use of the new park? Storing boats?

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13 Comments:

Anonymous said...

You are surprised that a park called "Regatta" is involved with sailboat racing?

Yawn..so tired of hearing people lament the changes to their old Grove. Face it - all the people who lived in the Grove 15 years ago in the party days as "artists"now all have babies. The flavor of the Grove has already changed and where you used to have bohemia, now you have strollers and PTA meetings and people who value order. Much like how Hoboken or Park Slope changed in the NY area. As a resident, I was glad to see cops around. 1000 people in one small, public place with beer being sold in random booths to virtually anybody. To allow that without sufficient cops would be irresponsible. And I thought it was charming the way they rode around on their pretty horses. One even wished me a good evening from atop his horse. Very Grovey in my book..

Bring back the Playhouse, Goombay Festival, keep Bed Race here, restore King Mango and block parties, get rid of all the stupid expensive events in Peacock park unless the businessmen running them are willing to subsidize the above mentioned traditions of Coconut Grove, we have great traditions and history and we want to preserve them.

The Big Howl In The Wood, put on by The Solar Dogs band ran five great years until the City Of Miami made it so expensive and the permitting process such a nightmare that we finally called it off.After we paid the absurd fees there was little left to pass on. We wanted to start s tradition of community good time,promotion of local art and music and support for organizations helping the disadvantaged and disabled. Many of you readers came out and we enjoyed putting it on to our own great delight. We will pass on what we want to put on next but unfortunately it will not be in the city of Miiami. Bill Kunz

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